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Housekeeping

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Original poster

If you're an organised person how do you do it?

68 replies

atticusclaw · 15/06/2014 20:32

I literally feel like crying. The house is a tip and never seems to get any better, the garden is a jungle, I can never find anything, the DCs never have what they need for school, there are always a million jobs to do and we haemorrhage money.

Is there a solution to life?

OP posts:
JuniDD · 15/06/2014 22:15

I'm not tidy, but I am organised. You have to plan ahead so if you know you're going to need something the next day, get it ready.

It sounds like you just need to make a decision to get rid of a load of stuff to a charity shop and do it. I'd start on a Friday evening, make a decision to bag up a load of stuff ie "I will fill 10 bags" or "I will get rid of this wall of toys" and not stop til it's done. First thing Saturday, take it and drop it off. You'll feel so much better and get motivated to carry on. Good luck!

Original poster
atticusclaw · 15/06/2014 22:44

I am going to need to be ruthless about the clothes and clutter. You're all right I know I'll feel better once I let go of it all.

With the cleaner I think we maybe need to switch. She does spend an awful lot of time on the phone. I know because I'm here and so I hear her.

I think we probably need six hours rather than 4 with the house being so large but we also need someone who will actually be here cleaning for that time.

OP posts:
Philoslothy · 15/06/2014 22:59

I would question what your cleaner is doing. We run large house and mini farm with no cleaner and five/ six children and keep on top of it. That is with mainly me doing a few hours a day.

If you can afford a cleaner I would get in do to do a whole day deep clean and start afresh.

Philoslothy · 15/06/2014 23:03

Is there a solution to paperwork? Its everywhere (not helped by the fact that I work from home)

We have a mini drawer unit in the hallway,

We have a drawer for different types of correspondence , bills, extra curricular activities, charity etc.

Once a week over coffee DH and I go through the paperwork and either file of recycle.

MissSmiley · 15/06/2014 23:10

Philoslothy you sound amazing!
Why 5/6 children?
What age do you get yours to iron their own things?
I have recently stopped our cleaner who used to come three mornings a week and I think things are actually cleaner! I would resist doing too much when I knew she was coming. Now I just do a bit every day. Better and much cheaper.
The mini farm sounds fab!

trixymalixy · 15/06/2014 23:13

All the stuff you are keeping for other people, baby clothes etc. Bag it up, take it to the recycling bit at your local supermarket. There you will find a charity clothing bin, ours is oxfam. Chuck the whole lot in. Massive weight off.

I like the charity bin as Trying to park near a charity shop with kids in tow and manage to get loads of bags into the shop would be impossible.

Philoslothy · 15/06/2014 23:20

Stepson is at uni and splits his time between us and his Mum.

Nothing amazing, I just like animals.

I think they have been ironing from about 10. The older three all so their own ironing and have been for some time. We have two ironing boards so they can chat and room and there is a TV in the utility room. I love ironing while catching up on TV.

Original poster
atticusclaw · 15/06/2014 23:32

That's a good idea about the charity clothing bin. It is difficult to do a charity shop drop with kids in tow.

OP posts:
Original poster
atticusclaw · 15/06/2014 23:34

Philoslothy I don't have a few hours a day that's the problem. Because I work for myself I have to put in very long hours. I work full time plus most evenings. DH also has a job that makes big demands on his time. I feel we probably need to buy in extra support but finding reliable help isn't easy.

OP posts:
Philoslothy · 15/06/2014 23:50

I not criticising you for not having time, I was wondering why you had to to do much if you had a cleaner .

Igggi · 15/06/2014 23:55

Why is it hard to take a 7 and 9 year old to a charity shop? You seem to be putting obstacles in your own way.
It sounds drastic but do you really need such a big house for the four of you, since the size of it seems to be an issue re getting time to clean it. In my head it would be easy to be tidy with so much space (four times the size of home we have for same sized family) as you could have a place for everything. I suppose extra space gives more temptation to keep things forever.

Anotheronebitthedust · 15/06/2014 23:56

Wrt paperwork - try to get rid of as much as possible! Go through a bit a day, either shred it if it's out of date (receipts for example) or duplicated online (bank accounts instruction manuals etc)or will just never be used. Cancel all unnecessary stuff like bank statements. Chuck junk mail as soon as it comes through the door, don't shove it in a drawer. Don't keep piles of newspapers magazines etc for a rainy day/just for one recipe (problem I have!) and if there is stuff you actual need to keep, consider scanning it, filing it online on Amazon cloud/google so it's still there if your computer breaks,and binning the original. Easier to categorise and search by file name, etc. be ruthless!

phoebeflangey · 16/06/2014 00:21

Getting some good tips on here :) only thing I want to add is I was amazed by a thread re washing machine and dishwasher safety and that we should never put them on when we are out, or worse, at night. Until I read the thread I also did this, but it's scared me right off now!!

Original poster
atticusclaw · 16/06/2014 07:39

This is our forever house and so we're not downsizing until we retire. Plus I think it would drive me even more crazy if I had less space! Its a large house though and when we brought it we were naive about the level of upkeep required, particularly since we also have a 2 acre garden and 10 acres of woodland to maintain.

I'm not putting obstacles in the way but life is crazy busy (as I'm sure it is for everyone). I get up just before six 6 get the kids ready and packed off to school work 7-3 running my own business which is very full on, leave the house at 3 to get the DCs from school. Get back at 4.45, dinner on, homework supervision (/answering emails whilst pretending to show an interest in what the DCs are doing), activity, DCs bed, make dinner for me and DH, 2-3 hours more work, bed at about 11.30. Things like going to a charity shop are very low down the list. But it is a good point and the level of stuff hanging around is a contributor and so I am going to do it.

The tips are all great, really helpful. I'm making a list!

OP posts:
Flisspaps · 16/06/2014 07:43

You want [[http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/good_housekeeping/1451448-LITTLE-things-that-help-keep-you-organised this thread - an oldie but goodie

Flisspaps · 16/06/2014 07:44

And this one.

These are saved in my watch list and I look back at them when things start to fall apart in my house Grin

Flisspaps · 16/06/2014 07:45

Blush www.mumsnet.com/Talk/good_housekeeping/1451448-LITTLE-things-that-help-keep-you-organised clickable link to first thread

Original poster
atticusclaw · 16/06/2014 08:08

Trawling through that now - sod work my life needs organising!

OP posts:
RoganJosh · 16/06/2014 10:54

If you spend ten minutes a day bagging up charity stuff then you could do a run at the weekend. If you can clear some stuff it'll more than save you that time in the future. I'd put the bag straight in the car, then it's just a quick detour. Find a charity shop you can park outside, leave the kids in the car.

RoganJosh · 16/06/2014 10:55

Or am I on the wrong track with the clutter? What do you think the problem is?

Too much stuff? More cleaner needed? Not enough storage?

Original poster
atticusclaw · 16/06/2014 11:37

I think its a combination of everything. We do have too much stuff but its mainly old kids clothes and toys and they get slung into a box room or clutter up the playroom. Its not like the house is overflowing with stuff or anything.

This morning I have done the following:

  1. Increased the cleaners hours to six hours a week
  2. chased the gardener who quoted a few weeks ago and given the go ahead
  3. organised the window cleaner to come more regularly
  4. booked the DSs onto the school bus home for next year (will free an hour and three quarters each weekday)
  5. ordered a skip for garden and garage crap
  6. ordered the school uniform and labels needed for September.
  7. Half tidied my desk
  8. Resolved that each morning once the DSs and DH leave the house to put on a load of washing/load dishwasher/get out whatever I need for that evening's dinner/put on the roomba.
  9. created a pile of my old clothes to go straight to the charity shop
10. started an amazon order for things I need to help me get/stay organised 11. accomplished very little in terms of paid work!
OP posts:
ItHasANiceRingWhenYouLaugh · 16/06/2014 14:17

Atticus, maybe you could consider getting one meal that would do for your kids and the grownups? This would cut down on kitchen time. I am v lazy about that!

I. E. In our house we do salmon, rice and veg, add a nice sauce for grown ups. Baked chicken and cous cos and roast veg for grown ups , just replace roast veg with chopped up raw veg for kids.

Original poster
atticusclaw · 16/06/2014 17:32

We often do eat the same nicering. We just don't eat at the same time since the DCs go to bed at 7.30 and DHs doesn't get in until then. I will do it more frequently though because you're right, it saves doubling up.

OP posts:
MinimalistMommi · 16/06/2014 18:00

Blimey, my cottage is just over 500 sq ft for four of us, your place is massive OP. Sack your cleaner and get new one if she spends half her time on the phone.